Dr M has not fled the country

Contrary to rumours, the former premier is spotted casting his vote in Kedah this morning.

PETALING JAYA: Contrary to rumours that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has left the country on the eve of the election, he was spotted casting his ballot in Kedah this morning.

Berita Harian online published a photograph showing the 87-year-old Umno veteran and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali voting in Sekolah Kebangsaan Titi Gajah, Alor Star.

Since yesterday, rumours were spreading that Mahathir had left the country for Europe to seek medical treatment.

On Facebook, many speculated that the former premier had fled because he knew that Barisan Nasional would be defeated in the polls.

Mahathir’s bad blood with Pakatan Rakyat supremo Anwar Ibrahim is legendary, and the former has warned Malaysian voters against backing his nemesis, whom he has accused of numerous misdeeds.

However, Anwar’s supporters claim that Mahathir fears the prospect of Anwar taking over Putrajaya as it could lead to a witch-hunt against him and his family members.

But Anwar has repeatedly said that he would not exact revenge on the man who sacked him as deputy prime minister, paving the way for his sodomy charge and subsequent imprisonment.

Anwar, who has always claimed to be a victim of a political conspiracy, has expressed confidence that Pakatan will win GE13.

Speaking at a ceramah last night, the opposition leader said: “I don’t want Mahathir to die, I want him to watch the TV3 news on May 6.”

He was referring to media reports which claimed that Anwar had expressed his desire to see Mahathir die during a ceramah, but the latter denied this.